Birth and Death Certificates

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Birth and death certificates

Office of Vital Records

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770-520-7500
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VitalChek
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141 Pryor St SW Suite 1029A
Atlanta, GA 30303

Birth and Death Certificates


Birth and death certificates are available through the Fulton County Board of Health, Office of Vital Records.

Birth Certificates are only issued to applicants having a direct and tangible interest, primary immediate family members, or legal representatives of the family.  

A certificate of death contains personal information about the deceased (name, age, marital status, parents and spouse's names, etc.), time, location, cause and manner of death. A certificate of death should be filed by the funeral director with the Vital Statistics Registrar of the Fulton County Health Department as soon as possible after death. 

Birth and death certificates may be purchased online through VitalChek or in person at the Office of Vital Records located in the Fulton County Government Center at 141 Pryor Street SW Suite 1029A, Atlanta, GA 30303.

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
*With the exception of holidays

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birth & death certificates faq's

Who can request a birth certificate?

Birth Certificates are only issued to applicants having a direct and tangible interest, primary immediate family members, or legal representatives of the family. See the list below:

  • The person named on the certificate- If the person named on the certificate (i.e. the registrant) is the requestor, that person must provide valid photo identification at the time of the request.
  • The parent(s) named on the birth record- Must provide valid picture identification.
  • An authorized legal guardian or agent- Any person who has legal custody or control of a minor child must provide a certified copy of the court order establishing guardianship and legal custody.
  • Grandparents of the person named on the certificate- Must provide proof of relationship such as the birth certificate of the registrant’s parent.
  • An adult child or adult sibling of the person named on the certificate- Must provide proof of relationship by providing a copy of his or her birth certificate listing one of the same parents, along with his or her valid government-issued picture identification which includes a signature.
  • The spouse of the person named on the certificate- Must provide a copy of the marriage certificate, a photocopy of the spouse’s picture identification, which includes the spouse’s signature, with a notarized letter from the spouse giving permission.
  • Attorney- Must represent an immediate family member and provide a notarized letter on letterhead signed by the attorney; provide bar number indicating the reason for the request and whom they represent; provide supporting documentation with the fee; provide a notarized release from the biological mother, in the event of an adoption.
  • State or Federal Government Officials- We may disclose data from Vital Records to authorized representatives of Federal, State, or County agencies of government which request such data in the conduct of their official duties.

Georgia law and the State Department of Public Health regulations require that all requests for vital records include the signature and a picture ID of the requestor and the proper fee.

Who can request a death certificate?

Certified death certificates are only issued to applicants having a direct and tangible interest, primarily family members and/or legal representatives of the family.

(Proof of the relationship will be verified or must be provided if applicable)

what is the price of each certificate?

$25 (non-refundable search fee)

  • Additional certifications of the same record ordered at the same time are $5 each (full-size copies available only)
  • Multi-year search (every three years or portion thereof) $25
  • Georgia law requires pre-payment before a record or a service can be provided..

can i do a mail-in request?

Yes

  • Birth Certificates- Mail a letter with the name of the registrant, date of the event, and parental information to Fulton County Vital Records, 141 Pryor St., Suite 1029A Atlanta, GA 30303. Or you may order online through VitalChek.
  • Death Certificates- Mail a letter with the name of the decedent, date of death, county of death and additional information that may be helpful to identify the decedent must be submitted to Fulton County Vital Records, 141 Pryor St., Suite 1029A Atlanta, GA 30303. Or you can order online through VitalChek.
  • A valid, unexpired ID should also be submitted

How do i obtain a certified copy of the death certificate?

Copies can be requested from the funeral home when arrangements are made. Alternatively, certified death certificates can be obtained directly from the Fulton County Vital Records Department, 141 Pryor Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 talkdesk(404)-613-1260

why does the death certificate list "pending" on the cause of death line?

Often, more information and records or additional testing is required to accurately determine cause and manner of death. A pending death certificate will still allow your family to make immediate funeral arrangements. Once a final determination of cause and manner of death has been made, a supplemental death certificate will be issued to Vital Statistics.

HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF A FETAL DEATH CERTIFICATE OR REQUEST A CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH RESULTING IN A STILLBIRTH (CBRS)?

Contact the state office at talkdesk404-679-4702 regarding certified copies of fetal death and stillbirth certificates. We are not able to assist with this request.

HOW CAN I GET AN APOSTILLE COPY OR AN EXEMPLIFIED COPY OF A BIRTH CERTIFICATE?

If you require an apostille or are planning to adopt a child from a foreign country, please inform the clerk that you would like a pen-in-hand signature. There is no additional charge for this service.

For current information about the fee and location to obtain apostille copies, you may call the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Authority at talkdesk404-327-6023 or visit http://www.gsccca.org/Projects/apost.asp

For information about exemplified copies (Great Seal certification), call the Georgia Secretary of State Election Division at talkdesk404-656-2871. These two agencies are not affiliated with the Fulton County Vital Records Office.

HOW CAN I REQUEST A BIRTH OR DEATH CERTIFICATE?

  • Walk-In Service
    • 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, except Major Holidays
      141 Pryor St., Suite 1029A
      Atlanta, GA 30303
      Response Time: Same Day Service (In most cases)
  • Mail-in Requests
    • For birth certificates, you may mail a letter with the name of the registrant, date of the event, and parental information or you may order online through Vitalcheck.
    • For death certificates, a letter with the name of the decedent, date of death, county of death, and any additional information that may be helpful to identify the decedent must be submitted or you may order online through Vitalcheck

  • A valid, unexpired ID of the requestor should also be submitted.

Address: Fulton County Vital Records, 141 Pryor St., Suite 1029A Atlanta, GA 30303
Response Time: 3-5 business days

A surcharge and expedite fee applies for credit card payments. Only birth and death certificates are available through this service.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC TYPES OF ID THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE AS PROOF OF IDENTITY?

A valid PHOTO ID such as one of the following is acceptable:

  • Georgia Driver’s license unexpired or expired for not more than one year
  • State of Georgia Identification Card unexpired or expired for not more than one year
  • Unexpired driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
  • Unexpired official Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
  • Unexpired U.S. Passport
  • Unexpired Foreign Passport
  • U.S. Military Identification, Military Dependent Identification, Veteran’s Identification
  • Unexpired Consulate Card
  • Transportation ID
  • Debit Card with Photo
  • Employer ID Card with Photo
  • School, University, or College Identification Card with Photo
  • DMV ID Card
  • Department of Corrections Identification Card

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION REQUESTED

  • For birth certificates, you must provide all the information requested in the application.
  • For a death certificate, you must provide the name of the subject at the time of death and the year of death in order to conduct a search; however, any other information will be helpful to assure that the correct record is accessed.

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED COPY?

A certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the Fulton County Board of Health, Vital Records Office, will have an embossed, slightly raised seal, bear the signature of the State Registrar, as well as the County Registrar, and will be printed on security paper. A certified copy is required to obtain a state-issued driver’s license or identification, a passport, or insurance benefits, or to travel to some foreign countries. Certified Death certificates issued will contain a raised seal.

WHAT IS A PATERNITY ACKNOWLEDGMENT AFFIDAVIT?

A Paternity Acknowledgment affidavit helps to establish the father and child relationship. It is a voluntary agreement between the mother and biological father to add the father’s name to the birth record while giving the option to change the child’s last name to that of the father as well. The child’s given name may also be changed within the child’s first year of birth, if applicable. Both parents must present a valid, unexpired photo ID for this service and a free notary service is provided when both parents are present to sign.

Note: Fulton County Vital Records acts as the liaison only for this process and requires the office to mail the original acknowledgment affidavit to the State Vital Records office for review and processing. Please allow at least 4-6 weeks for the updated version of the record to be accessible in the system. You may also contact the State Vital Records office directly at 404 679 4702 if necessary.

WHAT IS THE OUT OF INSTITUTION BIRTH PROCESS AT FULTON COUNTY VITAL RECORDS?

In any case where a birth occurs outside a hospital, or other recognized medical facility, without medical attendance and the birth certificate is filed by someone other than a healthcare provider, additional evidence in support of the facts of birth shall be completed and filed in the presence of the local Vital Records registrar in the county where the birth occurred. A birth certificate for a birth which occurs outside a recognized medical institution shall only be filed upon personal presentation of evidence by the individual(s) filing the certificate.  You may request an out of institution birth packet from this office via the customer service walk-in counter from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. This procedure requires the original documentation to be mailed into the state vital records to register the certificate and may take anywhere from 4-6 weeks for processing.

Note: If the child is more than a year old, the out of institution birth cannot be registered. The parent(s) must apply for a birth certificate by delayed procedure. For more information on this process or to check on a status, you may dial the state office at talkdesk404 679 4702.